Spanning close to 1000 acres in Fremont, Coyote Hills Regional Park is best known for its bird-filled marshes, bay views and a Tuibun Indian village you can visit during a monthly open house. Click here to read more about hiking opportunities in the park, including a walk that takes visitors along a boardwalk over the marshes.

The Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline is divided into two sections separated by private property. From the western section, you can take an easy overlook loop walk, which delivers views of Carquinez Strait to the north and Suisun Bay to the east. For more on the trail, click here.

Over four million tons of coal (black diamonds) were extracted from the East Contra Costa foothills between the 1850s to the early 1900s. Today, Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve offers over 60 miles of well-marked trails along with guided tours of the old mines and 1860s hilltop burial ground worth visiting. Click here to learn more »

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez - San Fran, The Chronicle

Over four million tons of coal (black diamonds) were extracted from...

Over four million tons of coal (black diamonds) were extracted from... Photo-3504439.58040 - SFGate

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Though there are 8 bridges in the Hayward Regional Shoreline park, the longest is in Cogswell Marsh and crosses a wide salt water channel. The Cogswell Marsh Loop is a must for birdwatchers. Click here for more information about the marsh and access to trail maps.

Photo: Michael Short, Special To The Chronicle

Though there are 8 bridges in the Hayward Regional Shoreline...

Though there are 8 bridges in the Hayward Regional Shoreline... Photo-3435201.58040 - SFGate

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The former estate of the self-proclaimed "Poet of the Sierras," Joaquin Miller Park in Oakland Hills offers beautiful hikes through redwood groves and meadows. At the edge of the park, Chabot Space & Science Center wows visitors with its telescope and planetarium. Click here to read more.

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

The former estate of the self-proclaimed "Poet of the Sierras,"...

The former estate of the self-proclaimed "Poet of the... Photo-1837499.58040 - SFGate

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With its spectacular ridgetop views and gentle undulations, the Nimitz Way Trail at Inspiration Point is one of the East Bay's most popular trails. On weekends, it is crowded with hikers, bikers, children, strollers and dogs. A highlight? The view from the top of the Rotary Peace Grove lookout. For details on the trails, click here.

Take a walk in downtown Oakland past artwork and restored homes. In Preservation Park, you will find 16 unique cottages that were once home to Oakland's brick and lumber merchants, saloon keepers, journalists and industrialists. Don't miss the Latham-Ducell Fountain as you stroll toward Preservation Park. For information on what to look for as you stroll, click here.

Photo: David Paul Morris, Special To The Chronicle

Take a walk in downtown Oakland past artwork and restored homes. In...

Steps away from Berkeley's elegant Fourth Street shopping district is a different side of the city. Berkeley shoreline offers plenty of space for dog walking, bird watching, and biking in scenic Aquatic Park. For tips on the perfect walking tour, read more here.

Tucked into Wildcat Canyon in the Berkeley hills, the 10-acre Tilden Regional Botanic Garden creates exquisite landscapes, from California's southern deserts to the rain forests of the north. The garden is also a haven for California's rare and endangered plant species. For details on where to stroll, click here.

Photo: Thomas Levinson, The Chronicle

Tucked into Wildcat Canyon in the Berkeley hills, the 10-acre...

Tucked into Wildcat Canyon in the Berkeley hills, the 10-acre... Photo-1894373.58040 - SFGate

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If you love bird watching, grab a pair of binoculars and visit the Stevens Creek Shoreline Nature Study Area in Mountain View. The Study Area's levee trail is flanked by Stevens Creek on the west and salt marshes and ponds to the east. Find the best route on the trail here.

Photo: Kirsten Aguilar, The Chronicle

If you love bird watching, grab a pair of binoculars and visit the...

If you love bird watching, grab a pair of binoculars and visit the... Photo-2297418.58040 - SFGate

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Tucked next to the freeway at the foot of the Oakland hills, the 135-acre Mills College campus is a delightful urban oasis. Relax at Mills Hall while enjoying the open grass in front at the Oval. For the best campus stroll, click here.

Photo: Kirsten Aguilar, The Chronicle

Tucked next to the freeway at the foot of the Oakland hills, the...

Tucked next to the freeway at the foot of the Oakland hills, the... Photo-2040852.58040 - SFGate

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Tilden Nature Area includes the Little Farm and Environmental Education Center, making this outing fun for kids. Make sure to stop at Jewel Lake, a rustic one-acre pond in the 740-acre area just north of Tilden Regional Park. Find your favorite path around the lake here.

Photo: Kat Wade, Special To The Chronicle

Tilden Nature Area includes the Little Farm and Environmental...

Tilden Nature Area includes the Little Farm and Environmental... Photo-2040846.58040 - SFGate

Named after the forest in Shakespeare's "As You Like It," Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont is a 205-acre working farm that remains as it was in the 1880s, with vintage equipment and historical crops. Visitors can take a tour of the restored Victorian farmhouse, help with farm chores and see demonstrations of sheep-shearing and blacksmithing. Click here to learn more.

Photo: Jill Schneider, The Chronicle

Named after the forest in Shakespeare's "As You Like It," Ardenwood...

Named after the forest in Shakespeare's "As You Like... Photo-2976787.58040 - SFGate

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In the middle of urban El Cerrito, the El Cerrito Hillside Natural Area offers 90 acres of unspoiled forest, grassland and wildlife. Click here to read more about the untamed hiking trails and sensational views of the Bay and Golden Gate bridges.

A public art program passed in 1990 has turned Emeryville, home of Pixar Animation Studios, into a treasure trove of sculptures and murals. Among the projects is "Signs of the Times," in which artist Seyed Alavi collaborated with local high school students to create art objects out of traffic signal boxes. For a suggested walking route through the city, click here.

Photo: Kevin Johnson, The Chronicle

A public art program passed in 1990 has turned Emeryville, home of...

A public art program passed in 1990 has turned Emeryville, home of... Photo-2565265.58040 - SFGate

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Visit the oak-studded Briones Regional Park in the fall for a spectacular display of orange and gold trees, or in the spring, when the hills are carpeted with poppies, buttercups, lupine and fiddlenecks. Click here to learn more about this 3.5-mile-loop hike in Lafayette.

Hikers looking for a sense of solitude will enjoy the quiet trails of Crockett Hills Regional Park, just outside the tiny town of Crockett. Climb the 800-foot hilltop to enjoy sweeping views of San Pablo Bay, Mount Tamalpais and Mount Diablo. Click here to learn more.

Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle

Hikers looking for a sense of solitude will enjoy the quiet trails...

Hikers looking for a sense of solitude will enjoy the quiet trails... Photo-1897480.58040 - SFGate

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Former gravel pits are now lakes for boating and swimming at Fremont's Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area. Visitors to the 462-acre park can also enjoy hiking, wildlife viewing and picnicking. For more about the trails, click here.

Photo: Thomas Levinson, The Chronicle

Former gravel pits are now lakes for boating and swimming at...

Former gravel pits are now lakes for boating and swimming at... Photo-1901933.58040 - SFGate

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The Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve, featuring the 1,763-foot Round Top volcano, is one of the East Bay's oldest parks. Dedicated in 1936, this natural area in the Berkeley Hills is also known for mysterious labyrinths that have appeared at the bottom of quarry canyons. Click here to learn more.

Though primarily known as a prestigious academic institution, UC Berkeley is also home to scenic meadows and groves, picturesque architecture and free museum exhibits. For some of the campus' can't-miss spots, click here.

Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle

Though primarily known as a prestigious academic institution, UC...

Though primarily known as a prestigious academic institution, UC... Photo-2024740.58040 - SFGate

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Once a bedroom community for San Francisco, Alameda has preserved its small-town feel. The grand Victorian mansions feature some of the East Bay's most dazzling architecture. For a suggested walking tour of the city, click here.

Photo: Adm Golub, The Chronicle

Once a bedroom community for San Francisco, Alameda has preserved...

Once a bedroom community for San Francisco, Alameda has preserved... Photo-2040841.58040 - SFGate

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In Hayward and Union City, the interconnected Dry Creek Pioneer and Garin regional parks offer trails through the former Meyers Ranch. Hikers can visit magnificent gardens, a popular fishing spot and hills full of wildflowers. Click here to learn more.

Surrounded by the airport, the Coliseum and Interstate 880, Oakland's Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline carves out a quiet place for city dwellers to hike, bike, bird-watch, picnic and fish. Click here to learn more about the available trails and facilities.

Photo: Kat Wade, Special To The Chronicle

Surrounded by the airport, the Coliseum and Interstate 880,...

Surrounded by the airport, the Coliseum and Interstate 880,... Photo-2415312.58040 - SFGate

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If you want to feel as though you're walking on San Francisco Bay, take a stroll on the Berkeley Pier. Once extending 3.5 miles into the water, the first 3,000 feet are still accessible to pedestrians, making it a popular fishing spot. Click here to learn more about the pier's history and the other attractions you'll find nearby.

Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle

If you want to feel as though you're walking on San Francisco Bay,...

If you want to feel as though you're walking on San Francisco... Photo-2332646.58040 - SFGate

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The most successful writer of his time, Jack London, created Beauty Ranch on Sonoma Mountain in Glen Ellen, now the site of Jack London State Historic Park. You can visit Jack London's home, his grave site and his experimental farm. Don't miss the House of Happy Walls Museum. For more details, click here.

Photo: John Storey, Special To The Chronicle

The most successful writer of his time, Jack London, created Beauty...

The most successful writer of his time, Jack London, created Beauty... Photo-3204115.58040 - SFGate

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Little Yosemite in the Sunol Regional Wilderness becomes an exciting gorge on Alameda Creek after the autumn and winter rains. Start your trek on the Canyon View Trail for gorgeous views of the oak-studded canyon surrounding you. For more information, click here.

Salvio Pacheco Square next to Todos Santos Plaza in Concord is named for the Concord pioneer, and features the look and feel of a Spanish hacienda. Today, Todos Santos Plaza is home to concerts, a fall festival, a Fourth of July parade and many other community events. Make sure to visit on a Tuesday, so you can enjoy the plaza's most popular event: the farmers' market. Click here for more details.

Head to the pedestrian walkway surrounding Lake Merritt in Oakland for a walk or jog set amidst lush parkland. Recently, city officials opened a channel that will one day connect the lake with the Oakland Estuary and San Francisco Bay. For more information, click here.

Photo: Liz Hafalia, The Chronicle

Head to the pedestrian walkway surrounding Lake Merritt in Oakland...

Head to the pedestrian walkway surrounding Lake Merritt in Oakland... Photo-2333618.58040 - SFGate